I'm getting another cat

My friend Barbara has to give up one of the cats. Her mom, Granny, is now in a nursing home, and unfortunately, she might not be getting out. She's 85 now, and isn't in the best of health, and is forgetting things. Barb said she had to remind her mother about the cats in the house and their names. She's forgotten them. Poor little Oliver was the last addition to the household, and stays in Granny's room because he's afraid of the dogs, and so he doesn't get the loving he did when Granny was around.

Poor little guy wasn't eating very much. He's a long hair, but he's as skinny and light as can be. Last time I stayed there (about a month ago, now), Barb gave him a can of food and he didn't touch it, and then she tried mixing dry with canned, and he still wasn't eating. Barb is a dog person, so she doesn't always know what to do, so I told her to give him some plain dry food, and voila! he started eating. She said he's picked up some weight since then.

Anyhow, with trying to run the household now on her own, Barb's at the end of her rope, and doesn't have the time to be taking all the sensibilities of the house and its occupants into consideration, and wanted to know if I could take Oliver. The other cats in the house are okay--they're older and have their range, and will be outdoors as soon as the weather gets nice again.

So, Oliver is coming to a new home. Since I came back to Massachusetts, I have lost two of my own, and already picked up one new one when I adopted her when her mom (one of my closest friends) passed away. So it's not going to result in too much of a change, but he's young (about 3) and the rest of the menagerie is much older (the "youngest" two of the clan are both 10 this year).

I'll post pics when I get them, which might not be for awhile yet. This brings the total back up to 6. I wanted a kitten, but I guess destiny had other plans.

you're doing yourself AND your friend AND her mom a favor.

And a BIG favor to Oliver.

I took in two little gargoyles that put me over my cat limit. They were scrawny and testy and nothing to write to DU about. Fast forward, they're the heart of the house.

Good luck to you all :)

:D

I did something like this three years ago. The piss wars stopped around last october. I still don't know why. I think it has something to do with my very loud voice every time I found another "fort" marked.

were neutered very young. And the alpha cat used to be my Dax, who I lost on the move cross-country. The other boys don't have much aggression at all--one prefers to sleep on the bed all day long, and the other acts like an innocent when he's done something to clearly test my patience. They've never sprayed.

Oliver will get the bathroom for a week, just like Amanda did when she first got here. She's gotten to be quite a cuddler, unlike my own troop, which were never completely socialized with people.

So now it'll be 3 B/G. I buy the biggest cat dry food bag I can afford, which is the 18-22 lb one, and they have free choice. Barb's got the dogs, and there can't be any "free choice" with them around. I don't mind some dogs, but she's got two bassetts, an english setter, and her mom had an ancient poodle (at 15 or 16 now). They weren't raised well--she got them from the pound as "troubled and abused" animals, and their behavior shows that--they're the canine equivalent of neurotics. Without the dogs around, Oliver might start to become more friendly and bold. My own don't mind so much--like I said, sleeping is their main mode.

And best of luck to Oliver in his new home!

Post some pics sometime, ok?

....Can't wait to see the pictures!

I'm glad Oliver will be going to a good home. I just love cats. I hope it doesn't take long for hime to feel at home at his new home. I wish your household peace. :)

:)

I'm hoping the gang here is as worn out and tired as I am, and won't bother to put up a fight because it would disturb their sleep time. :)

:thumbsup:

as soon as I see how things go. It should be interesting to say the least.